smith



(No Model.) 2. Sheets-Sheet 1.

J. HILL, W. SMITH & J. P. ODONNELL. INTERLOOKING SIGNAL APPARATUS.

No. 419,170. Patented Jan.7,1890.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

J. HILL W. SMITH & J. P. ODONNELL INTEHLOGKING SIGNAL APPARATUS.

No. 419,170. Patented Jan.7,1890.

InvenZorr wvlwwea" A I" I. 17%. V

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH IlILL, OF \VALIVORTII, \VILLIAM SMITH, OF l-IERNE HILL, AND

JOHN PATRICK ODONNELL, OF NEIV MALDEN, COUNTY OF SURREY,

ENGLAND.

INTERLOCKING SIGNAL APPARATUS.

SIECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 419,170, dated January '7, 1890.

Application iiled August 6, 1889. Serial No. 319,861.

France February 6, 1888, 110,188,585; in England February 13,1888,

(No model.) Patented in Belgium a uary 25, 1888,1lo. 80,379; in

No. 2,176; in Canada May, 21 1888, No. 31,410:

in Germany July 27, 1888, No. 47,718, and in ItalyDecember 8, 1888,110. 23,959.

To aZZ whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that we, JOSEPH IIILL, engineer, of 85 Morrow Street, \Valworth, VIL- LIAM SMITH, engineer, of 150 Mayall Road, Home Hill, and JOHN PATRICK ODoNNELL, signal engineer, of Cambridge Villa, Cambridge Road, New Malden, all in the county of Surrey, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in the erking and GroLind-Interlocking of Railway Point and Signal Apparatus, (for which we have received Letters Patent in Great Britain, No. 2,176, dated February 13, 1888; in Germany, No. 47,718, dated July 27, 1888; in France, No. 188,585, dated February 6, 1888; in Belgium, No. 80,379, dated January 25, 1888; in Italy, No. 23,959, dated December 8, 1888, and in Canada, No. 31, 410, dated May 21, 1888;) and we do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

By our invention certain of the cabin-frame levers can each perform the work generallyperformedby two adjacent levers. The economy is effected in such a way that increased safety is introduced with the economy gained in the saving of, first, each lever; of, second, the frame interlocking arrangements, and of, third, the signalmans labor.

As regards point-detecting and point and signal mutually interlocking, our principal apparatus has a separate plunger for each of the two positions of the switch-points. Nevertheless, the conformation of the stretcher-bar (as in 11 H) and the method of actuating the two plungers (slide-bars A and c) in the case of the present invention distinctly differs from apparatus hitherto styled or classed as double duplicate or duplex point locks and detectors. There will, moreover, be found one distinctive and unique feature common to all possible variations in the form of our apparatusnamely, the automatic determination of the proper sequence of signaling, locking, and unlocking of railway points and signals by the sidewise movement (throw) of the stretcher-bar II II (otherwise called tierod) or a prolongation of the same.

Figure 1 shows an approved and simple plan with the stretcher-bar H in an intermediate position, while Fig. 5 represents the same machine after the stretchenbar H H has correctly completed its sidewise movement to the left and after the selector-bar B has been carried out of gear with 0 into gear with A and has drawn A, thereby detecting and locking the stretcher-bar H H.

Fig. 2 shows an elevation of our unique stretcher-bar H H, with the bars A B c Q shown in section in their relative positions, as in Fig. lviz., in an intermediate position. In this figure h is the aperture by which B is carried and the bearing on and through which E slides during its draft and return motion. a is the detecting and locking aperture of the stretcher-bar H II, which performs its functions in connection with the cross-action and counterpart formation of the slide-bar A. Similarly c is the detecting and locking aperture of the stretcher-bar H H, which performs its function in connection with the cross-action and counterpart formation of the other slide-bar c. The block-piece g on the bottom will be omitted when no normal lock ing-bolt is employed.

Fig. 3 shows an elevation of our unique stretcher-bar H II, with the bars A B c Q shown in section in their relative position, as in Fig. 5viz., after the stretcher-bar H H has correctly completed its sidewise movement to the left, and after the selector-bar B has been carried out of gear with 0 into gear with A and has drawn A, thereby detecting and locking I'I. Ir; Fig. 3 will be seen the method of locking the points by the bolt Q acting against the block-piece q, thereby obstructing the movement of the stretcherbar H II. The slide-bar A in section is also shown as looking the stretcher-bar by means of the thickened portion M, Fig. 4:, passing through the aperture a, Figs. 2 and 3.

Fig. 4: is an elevation of the bars A, B, and

0, free of the case, and of the bolt Q, omitted.

form of complete single primary machine in A, B, and c are in the position shown in the plan of Fig. i. The selector-bar B engages on one side with A or on the other side'with (according as the switch-points are actuated) by means of its underneath fixed double arm or projection or bow-piece?) Z) entering, Fig. l, a counterpart opening or excavation or gap a or c on the upper faces of A and c.

Fig. 13 gives a field view of a method of applying the above apparatus. Therein three cabin-frame levers suffice to work four signals M N O P and one pair of points. No. l lever, by rod and crank connections, can work IS the points only when all signals stand at danger. When the points stand'right for the left-hand main line then, No. 2 lever can work the left-hand stop-signal M. The selector-bar B being in gear with A and drawing the same, whereby the points are both detected and locked, only while B is drawn can the lever No. 3 work the selector-barE of the secondary machine D E F, and thereby lower the right or the left hand distant signal 2 5 O orPto safety, in conformity with M or N, previously lowered. The return actions of the three cabin-fran1e levers, as will be read-' ily seen, must be in the order 3 2 1. After the points have been moved over to the left, 0 and thus set right for the right-hand branch line, the cabin-frame lever No. 2 will work the. stop-signal N, and lever No. 3 following the distant signal P. In the above arrangement it may be observed that the switch- 5 points would only remain locked while their left or right hand stop-signal stood at danger. A secondary machine D E F only differs from a primary machine in that its selector-bar E in Fig. 13 is carried into and out of gearing with the signal slide-bars D and F of its set otherwise than by an actual switch-point stretcher-barfor instance, H H, in connection with the primary machine A B c.

Fig.- Sis an enlarged plan of a secondary setD E F. H H is the carrying-bar, by means of which'the selector-bar E is carried out of gear with F and into gear with D. cl and f upon slide-bars D and F, respectively, are raised locking pieces or ribs which prevent the bars D and F from being actuated by the selector-bar E until they are released, respectively, F by the movement of the blade K K" in the direction of the arrow, and D by the movement of the blade H H also in the direction of the arrow. The movement of K K places a notch K opposite to and corresponding to the rib f, and as the notch h is .then right for the free passage of rib f the selector-bar E is therefore free to draw the slide-bar F, which, in Fig. 13, lowers the distant signal P. The movement of K K corresponds to the previous movement of the stop- .signal N. Similarly to draw D, the blade H H must be moved in the direction of the arrow, thereby placing the bow piece Z) of the selector-bar in gear with D and out of gear with F. It has also placed the notch h opposite to and corresponding to the rib d, and as the notch K is normally right for the free passage of the rib (Z the selector-bar E is therefore free to draw the slide-barD, which, in Fig. 13, lowers the distant signal 0. The movement of H 11 corresponds to the previous movement of the stop-signal M. In either and both cases, when the slide-bars A and c are drawn, the ribs d and f lock both the slides H H K K, and in doing so backlock the respective stop-signals M N, according to which of these is lowered, thereby preventing its return to danger until the respective distant signal has itself been placed to danger and the rib (either d or f'i returned clear of the notches in the blades H H K K. l/Vhile the blade H H actually carries the selector-bar E into and out of gear, the blade K K, having a wide gap K Fig. 11, does not carry at all, but simply releases, by means of its notches, as described, normally the slide-bar D, and when worked the slide-bar F.

Fig. 9 is a section across R S, in the direc tion of the arrow, of the secondary machine D E F.

Fig. 10 is a side view of the blades E F free of the case.

Figs. 11 and 12 are elevations of the blades K K and H 11 showingthe gaps and notches referred to in Fig. 8.

Another distinct feature of noveltyconsists in adding to a primary machine afourth slide-bar or blade Q, specially devoted to the functions of normal locking. This bar Q, in Figs/5, 6, and 7, will preferably be connected to a rocker-bar, lock-bar, treadle-bar, or safety-bar, where one is used in connection with point-locking, and will of necessity be Worked by its own cabin-frame lever by rod-and-crank connections leading to either end. The feature of novelty in this extra bolt or normal locking-bolt Q, which locks the points independently, while all signals stand at danger consists more especially in its right and left hand arms, whereby it is bound to move with or precede the movement of A or c in the event of an attempt being made to draw B, or of Bbeing drawn, from its normal position, while Q stood in its unlocking position; furthermore, the right and left hand arms of Q would insure the correct and full return of A or c with B to their normal position in the event of the normal lockingbar Q being moved from its normal or lockin g position to its unlocking position, While B with A or c remained not fully returned home. This novel construction and use of the normal locking-bar Q equally applies to any such system of interlocking points and signals as may resemble our system in the employment of the similit-ude of our bars A and 0 without the intervention of our actual selector-bar B, or with the intervention, if any, of a mechanical equivalent or mechanical substitute for our selector-bar B.

Our other features of novelty may be considered as more or less subsidiary to the above arrangements and apparatus or to consist in modifications (or more or less subterfuges) of the above arrangements and apparatus, whereby the same or similar advantages are gained.

Having fully described our invention, What We desire to claim, and secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination, with the stretcher-bar H H, coupling the points and provided with notches a, c, and lb, of the selector-bar B, sliding in notch h and provided with lateral projections 12 b, the slide bars A and 0, adapted to be locked bythe stretcher-bar and to pass through said notches ct c, and lever mechanism for opening and closing the points, thereby'moving the notches in front of their respective slide-bars and causing the projections on the selector-bar to engage with said slide-bars according to the direction of movement of the points, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with the stretcher-bar H H, coupling the points and provided with notches a, c, and h, of the selector-bar l3, sliding in notch h and provided with lateral projections Z) l), the slide bars A and 0, adapted to be locked by the stretcher-bar and to pass through said notches a c, lever mechanism for opening and closing the points, thereby moving the notches in front of their respective slide-bars and causing the projections on the selector-bar to engage with said slide-bars according to the direction of movement of the points, and the locking-bolt Q, arranged parallel with bars A and c and provided with cross-arms adapted to engage with said bars, said bolt being locked by the stretcher-bar until the points have been fully opened or closed, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. The combination, with the primary apparatus between the rails, comprising the stretcher-bar H H, provided with notches a c h, the selector-bar provided with lateral projections Z) Z), and the slide-bars A and 0, adapted to pass through said notches a 0, respectively, when unlocked by the motion of the points of the secondary apparatus comprising the notched slides H H and K I", operatively connected with said bars A and 0, respectively, the selector-bar E, and the slide-bars D and F, provided with projections normally locking them with their respective slides until one is caused to engage with the selector-bar by the movement of the notched slide II H and the other released by the movement of the notched slide K K, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

JOSEPH HILL. XVILLIAM SMITH. JOHN PATRICK ODONNELL.

\Vitnesses:

ALFRED DONNISON, JOHN DONNISON. 

